Design of Cold Storage Structure for the Storage of White Yam (Dioscorea rotundata) Tubers

Abstract

Yam tuber (Dioscorea spp.) is a staple tropical tuber crop that is usually best eaten in its fresh form. However, inadequate preservation and storage can result in yam tubers deterioration immediately after harvesting due to their relatively high moisture content. All the traditional structures of preserving and storing yam tubers could not maintain their freshness for a long time. Therefore, the need for developing a new storage structure for the preservation of farm produce is needed. The major components of the cold storage structure are the frame, compressor, condenser, capillary tube, and evaporator. It would be fabricated with angle iron, galvanized mild steel, and stainless steel and insulated with 0.025 m thick polystyrene foam with the cooling system operating with R134a fluid. The total storage space was 0.2 m3 and it can store 100 kg of tubers of yam.  The total heat load, compressor capacity, condenser capacity, and evaporator capacity were 0.204 kW, 0.46 kW, 1.6059 kW, and 1.37931 kW respectively. The structure has the prospect of being used for the preservation and storage of yam tubers and will be very useful in a developing economy like Nigeria.